turkey

KAS on the coast of Turkey.13.09.10

Turkey has just lost the basketball final world cup game to USA, we were in the market having dinner , with a big screen, yelling with the locals. They were pleased we weren't yanks!! Sorry you folk from MA

This is a beautiful spot, on the Mediterranean,and our rest day., Houses on steep cliffs, tiny winding streets with shops galore. The Turks not so demanding to sell there wares, and because this is a favourite spot for yachties to hove to, the shops have some really lovely western clothes. I tried on a fine cotton shirt, told the guy “too small over my tummy, and he said GROSE!!” They are all very slim,most of them.We went to a pharmacy to buy some soap subsitute, for selwyn, we eventually came away with what we wanted, tiny shop with about 6 serving and lots of muslims getting their BP taken.

Back to Istanbul, we left there on the train to Ankara at 1130pm, and arrived 7.20am. Had a sleeper but not much sleep, toilet was a hole in the floor and no one must have been able to aim at the hole!! the floor was awash!!

Miles and miles of havested wheat fields, dry and barren right up to the train line. We were met here by our delightful bus driver Arli, who is going to be with us until we get back to istanbul.(17 million) We spent the morning in Ankara, quite a modern city, about 7 million live here.

Ataturk is THE HERO everywhere ,we went to his momument, very interesting, modern huge and spectacular museum.

From here we headed for Cappadocia,long drive. Fascinating, the result of a volcano errruption 30 million years ago.it has a lunar look like landscape, People live in the caves in the soft rock. We spent all day walking to the interesting spots. I might add its been 30 degrees and above, boy that shower is good when we get back to the hotel!! 5am the next morning we went for a balloon ride, 60 balloons, hovering over the area we had walked the day before , quite memorable.

We've had some long drives,all through interesting country,. headed south to Antalya, and the coast, beautiful city, huge, we stayed in the ancient part, our hotel 300 yrs old , beautiful, balconies, and interior garden, where we have breakfast. They are all the same, tomato, cucumber, feta cheese, boiled egg, olives, and lovely bread. Very strong coffee, or tea. or apple tea. We are enjoying the food, and so far only 1 or 2 with dele belly!!the tomatoes are delicious, huge peaches, nectarines,oranges, have seen capers and seseme growing, acres and acres of grapes, no poles and wires, and pumpkins for seed. Apricots, but they are finished. Lots of dried fruits and nuts sold in the markets and vendors on the streets. We went to a amazing light and fountain display when dark, beautiful spectacle.

Visited Termesso an old fortress city an hours walk up a mountain .The only city Alexander the Great didnt conquer in the first century BC and then the Romans took over in 200 AD Only the remains of the structure left now ,but amazing

The group is fantastic, aged from 50 to 70, all fit and full of fun, 4 single women, and the rest couples,all kiwis mostly from Auck. One form CHCH. We all have a good supply of duty free, and meet most nights for a catch up, and hear plans for the next day. Judy our leader is an old hand been doing the job for 16 yrs, shes great. We can really recommend, Grassroots travel.

Weve been to numerous ruins, amazing to be so old, and an engineering wonder. Yesterday we had a 3hr walk to see the flames of Mt Olympus, flames coming out of the ground as the result of natural gas!! Thousands of tourists at all these places , except yesterday at the flames , only for the young and fit!!!

We are very impressed with this country, very little grafetti, or rubbish lying around , people always cleaning the streets. Lots smoke though!! Off kayaking tomorrow.